Etymology Map
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Dance

3 stages from Frankish to English.

Today it means to move rhythmically to music

Where does the word "dance" come from? It comes from Frankish dintjan, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
dintjan
Frankish · ancient
"to move back and forth"
possibly a Frankish word; its exact origin is still debated
2
Stage 2 of 3
dancier
Old French · medieval
"to dance"
spread across Europe as a courtly fashion
3
Stage 3 of 3
dance
English · 1300s
"to move to music"
replaced Old English 'sealtian', from Latin 'saltare', to leap
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Dance’s story begins in Frankish: dintjan meant “to move back and forth.” Possibly a Frankish word; its exact origin is still debated. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as dancier. Spread across Europe as a courtly fashion. It reached English by 1300s as dance. Replaced Old English 'sealtian', from Latin 'saltare', to leap. Today, dance means to move rhythmically to music.